The Centre on Wednesday accepted a brand new scheme PM-PRANAM to incentivise states to promote various fertilisers and cut back on using chemical fertilisers and likewise determined to proceed with the present urea subsidy scheme for 3 years ending March 2025, with an outlay of Rs 3.68 lakh crore.
That aside, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accepted an outlay of Rs 1,451 crore subsidy to advertise natural manure, taking the whole bundle to over Rs 3.70 lakh crore.
The CCEA additionally determined to introduce sulphur-coated urea (Urea Gold) within the nation for the primary time to deal with a sulphur deficiency within the soil.
Briefing media, Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Mansukh Mandaviya mentioned the CCEA has accepted a scheme PM-PRANAM (PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Generation, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth).
“PM-PRANAM is aimed toward saving the soil and selling sustainable balanced use of fertilisers. The scheme entails the participation of the state governments,” he said.
Under the scheme, Mandaviya said that the states that adopt alternative fertilisers will be incentivised with the subsidy that is saved by reducing the use of chemical fertilisers.
Citing example, suppose a state is using 10 lakh tonnes of conventional fertiliser, and if it reduces its consumption by 3 lakh tonnes, then the subsidy saving would be Rs 3,000 crore. Out of that subsidy savings, the Centre will give 50 per cent of it — Rs 1,500 crore to the state for promoting the use of alternative fertiliser and other development works, he added.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the scheme in her Budget speech in February.
According to an official statement, the CCEA approved a “unique package” of revolutionary schemes for farmers with a complete outlay of Rs 3,70,128.7 crore.
“The bouquet of schemes is concentrated on the general well-being and financial betterment of farmers by selling sustainable agriculture. The initiatives will increase farmers’ income, strengthen pure/natural farming, rejuvenate soil productiveness and guarantee meals safety,” it added.
The CCEA approved the continuation of the urea subsidy Scheme to ensure constant availability of fertiliser to the farmers at the same price of Rs 242/45 kg bag, excluding taxes and neem coating charges.
Of the total package, Rs 3,68,676.7 crore has been committed for urea subsidy for three years (2022-23 to 2024-25). This is apart from the recently approved nutrient-based subsidy of Rs 38,000 crore for phosphatic and potassic (P&K) fertilisers during the Kharif season of 2023-24.
On sulphur-coated urea, Mandaviya said that the country has been using only urea, DAP and NPK fertilisers for the last 67 years. The efforts to promote alternative fertilisers and set up manufacturing units could not happen in the past. However, the Modi government initiated the work.
Sulphur-coated urea is more economical and efficient than the other kinds of urea. For instance, the nitrogen absorption in conventional urea is 30 per cent, neem-coated urea is 50 per cent, and nano urea is 80 per cent. Sulphur-coated urea will increase nitrogen absorption efficiency to 78 per cent.
“It will address Sulphur deficiency in the soil in the country. It will also save input costs for the farmers, and also raise incomes for farmers with enhanced production and productivity,” the assertion mentioned.
On helping natural manure, the minister mentioned Rs 1,451.84 crore has been accepted for Market Development Assistance (MDA) for selling natural fertiliser from Gobardhan Plants.
Under the scheme, a subsidy of Rs 1,500 per tonne shall be supplied to help the advertising of natural fertilisers — Fermented Organic Manures (FOM)/Liquid FOM/Phosphate Rich Organic Manures (PROM) produced as by-products from Biogas Plants/Compressed Biogas (CBG) Plants arrange below umbrella GOBARdhan initiative.
Asserting that the government is pro-poor and pro-farmers, Mandaviya mentioned the Centre had supplied Rs 6,30,890 crore throughout 2022-23 below 5 schemes, together with fertiliser subsidy, PM-KISAN, Price Stabilisation Fund, expense on procurement at MSP and NRLM.
He mentioned this interprets into a mean good thing about Rs 52,574 per farmer and Rs 18,108 per acre, including there are 12 crore farmers within the nation.
